Violations such as speeding, dangerous driving or riding without helmet in ads will be treated as an offence under the motor vehicle lawDipak K Dash | TNN | April 25, 2016, 09:00 IST

Image for representation onlyAny advertisement or promotion of a product showing violation of traffic rules such as speeding, dangerous driving or riding without a helmet may soon be treated as an offence under the motor vehicle law. The companies involved will have to pull such promotions off air and may also have to pay a fine .

Last week, top officials from state transport departments pushed for a new section in the Motor Vehicles Act to treat such advertisements or promotions as "serious offence". While the road transport ministry had proposed a warning message in such advertisements, the state officials unanimously supported "zero tolerance".

However, there would be different norms for films and art works since these may be an essential to the storyline. "In those cases, producers would be asked to run a warning when a stunt involving a motor vehicle is being shown," a transport ministry official said.

An official present in the meeting said automobile, tyre and FMCG brands made such "irresponsible" advertisements where there was no need to show unsafe driving. "It's not essential in advertisements unlike a film scene where a hero has to drive at high speed to catch a thief. They must distinguish between the two," the official said.